Didima - Ephesus

Note: This excursion is still in plans (not yet realized)

After the passport control the excursion starts with a Catamaran boat at the harbour of Kos Town.

Didima & Excursions.

Both excursions start with a 1 hour 15 minutes cruise on a fast catamaran from Kos to Didim. From the port in Didim, these guided tours move on by A/C buses to the ancient sites according to the schedules outlined in this brochure.

Didim, home of the antique city of Didyma with its ancient Temple of Apollo, is a small town and a popular seaside resort on the Aegean coast of Western Turkey. This ancient city, originally a pre-Greek cult sanctuary, was established as a colony of Myceane and then Crete in the 16th century BC and subsequently possessed by Persians, Ancient Romans, and Byzantines as part of the province of Caria.

This coast has thus become a very popular holiday resort and is genuinely attractive with its long sandy beaches, turquoise bays, ancient ruins to visit, and its own microclimate, benefiting from hundreds of days of sun every year.

Ephesus ...The ancient Metropolis devoted to the Goddess Artemis.

“He who had laid eyes on it once will be convinced that the world of the immortal gods has moved from the heaven to earth" said the ancient poet Philon who saw the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.
Being the homeland of such masterpieces, artists and philosophers throughout history, Ephesus nurtured a succession of civilizations that shaped our world. The most impressive sites to explore in this ancient city are as follows:

Temple of Artemis is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World in ancient times.

Celsus Library: This elegant monument with the delicate details of Roman architecture was built in AD 135.

Great Theatre: The largest structure of Ephesus was originally built in the 3rd century BC and was later updated by the Romans in the 1th century AD when it had a seating capacity of 25.000.

Didyma ...Oracle Shrine of Apollo.

Hidden among rolling hills only a few miles from the scenic coast of southwestern Turkey, the ancient site of Didyma is famous from legendary times.Here was a natural spring where the beautiful Leto is supposed to have spent an hour of love with Zeus, then giving birth to the twins Artemis and Apollo (didimi in Greek).

The most important oracle site in Asia Minor, its pronouncements to Croesus, Alexander the Great and other great kings altered the course of human history.

The most dramatic feature is the ruins of Ionic Temple of Apollo which remains overwhelming, both by its enormity and intricacy.The flawless carved marble – much of it suspended nearly 100 feet off the ground- represents a classical Greek exercise in perfection.

This temple, measuring 51 by 110 meters, was the third largest structure of the Hellenistic world, being exceeded in size only by those at Ephesus and Samos; however it outlasted them both.

The temple of Apollo (Didymaion), preeminently famous as an oracle site, was the largest and wealthiest Ionic temple in Anatolia and was renowned for its holy relics, its treasury, its sacred spring and sacred laurel grove.

The temple attracted pilgrims, lovers, merchants and kings alike for centuries seeking advice from the oracle of Apollo.

Miletus ...Cradle of Philosophy.

The ancient city of Miletus, the oldest and the most powerful of the 12 Ionian cities of Asia Minor, reigned as the cultural, commercial and intellectual center of Ionia. Western philosophy originated in Miletus and it is the native city of Thales.

The Miletus alphabet was accepted as the normal script employed in writing ancient Greek.

The first coins were minted in this city and exact weight measures were established.Miletus is also renowned as the first city to which the principles of modern town-planning were applied.

There are many well-preserved ruins to be seen at the site, including:

Delphinion Temple (shrine as the protector of ships and harbours).

Theatre (originally built in the 4th century B.C and enlarged to 15.000 capacity during Roman period).

Ancient harbours.

Baths of Faustina.

Roman stadium.

Byzantine church & castle.

Altinkum Beach.

Famous for its gently sloping sandy beaches fringing crystal clear waters, Altinkum means 'Golden Sand'. Its two long crescent beaches lie at each end of the resort, starting at the harbour and finishing at a rocky headland promontory, so providing over 1 km of beach.

The sun-warmed waters along this beach are mainly shallow for a couple of hundred meters and are ideal for both supervised children and non-swimmers. Sun beds on the sands make it easy to relax in tan building comfort, or if you are feeling energetic, canoes and pedaloes are available for hire.

M/V Aegean Jet.

Catamaran "Aegean Jet" is Swedish built and classed by Italian Classification Soceity RINA. All her passengers are under the third party insurance coverage of "British Marine Protection & Indemnity Club" with a limit of 100.000.000 -USD.

The vessel is fully air-conditioned and she provides comfortable seating with aircraft type seats.